| What is a VoIP adapter? | | | | utilized is dependent upon the VoIP adapter used and |
| A VoIP (Voice over IP) adapter or analog telephone | | | | your voice service provider. |
| adapter (ATA) is a piece of VoIP equipment that | | | | Why use a VoIP adapter? |
| allows individuals using a VoIP service to leverage their | | | | There are many reasons to use analog adapters with |
| existing telephone to send and receive calls. A Voice | | | | the primary one being that they are simple. ATA's are |
| over IP adapter connects to a regular telephone | | | | the simplest and easiest type of VoIP equipment, so |
| through an FXS (Foreign eXchange Station) port and | | | | they require the least amount of maintenance and |
| to your cable modem or switch via an Ethernet port. | | | | support. In addition to simplicity and ease of use, they |
| Some adapters also have a FXO (Foreign eXchange | | | | are also very economically. Where as a VoIP phone |
| Office) port that allows you to connect a POTS (Plain | | | | might cost anywhere from $150 to $300 USD, most |
| Old Telephone Service) line as well as a second | | | | adapters cost under $70 USD (and many are free |
| Ethernet port. | | | | with VoIP service activation). |
| How do Voice over IP adapters work? | | | | Where can you purchase a VoIP adapter? |
| The basic purpose of these analog telephone | | | | Getting your hands on an adapter is easy. The two |
| adapters is convert analog voice streams into digital | | | | most popular ways to purchase a one are through |
| voice packets for transport across your network and | | | | your service provider (during service activation) or |
| the Internet. VoIP adapters also perform the reverse | | | | through an equipment supplier (like VoIP Supply). If you |
| function, decompressing digital voice packets into | | | | opt to purchase your ATA through an equipment |
| analog voice streams. Each adapters uses a | | | | supplier, make sure it works with your desired VoIP |
| combination of specialized voice codecs and protocols | | | | service provider and that they allow customers to |
| to accomplish this. The specific technology that is | | | | bring their own adapters. |